Monroe’s Motivated Sequence (MMS) refers to an organizational pattern that is used to create a sense of want or need in one’s audience, meet that want or need, as well as help the audience to be enthused about the perceived advantages of the presented solution (Sellnow, 2004). The Motivated Sequence gets its name from the aspect that going by the typical processes of human thinking serves to motivate the audience to respond in the most affirmative of ways to the speaker’s purpose. In other words, the Monroe’s Motivated Sequence has five steps devised for arranging main points for persuasive speeches so as to motivate people into taking action. It was developed by Alan Monroe in 19365 so as to account for what it entails to inspire the audience to assume action through demonstration of how it best satisfies human needs. It is a pattern that enables one to devise both the problem and its solution, together with being able to illustrate in detail the implications of implementing your plan or failing to (Sellnow, 2004). The five distinct steps are:
1. Attention – striving to hold the attention of your audience so as to have the listeners to only listen to you but also get to internalize a great sense of urgency
2. Need – demonstrate to the audience that there is a critical problem or apparent inadequacy in the current situation or status quo
3. Satisfaction – offer you plan for tackling the problem, giving sufficient detail so that the audience gets a clear understanding of how it will address the problem
4. Visualization – visualize the future so as to intensify the audience’s desire to find a solution to the problem
5. Action – inform your audience not only what they need to do but also how they can pull it through.
STEP Presentation content for the step
Attention “How would you like to have a dog that will immediately heed and obey your every command such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘stand,’ ‘come’ and ‘down’?”
Need Need to free a dog of any bad behaviors like barking, pulling, chewing, chasing, jumping, digging, bolting and even aggression.
“A way to quickly solve problematic dog behaviour and turn your dog into the perfect dog”
Satisfaction Introducing Don Sullivan’s Secrets to Training the Perfect Dog System
“Created by Master Wild Life Trainer Don Sullivan, also known as ‘The DogFather’”
“This amazing system gives Don’s years of powerful knowledge on 2 DVDs and everything you need to know to train your dog, and his trademark tools: the command collar, Freedom training lines”
Visualization “You will see the changes in just minutes”
“Guaranteed to create a dramatic and positive change in your dog in just minutes or your maonye back”
Action Get Don Sullivan’s Secrets to Training the Perfect Dog System and learn how to turn your dog into a Perfect Dog.
Purpose of the Need Step
It makes the listener to feel the need for change concerning the current problem. The presenter gives the need in clear terms accompanying it with strong supporting materials which the audience can relate with. It is an important step in which the speaker offers a convincing demonstration pertaining to how the need in question directly affects the audience. It serves to get the listener so concerned about the problem at hand and itch to hear the solution.
The content representing the visualization step made me visualize how one will be happy having a well-mannered dog. This had a greater impat on my perspection about this product in the sense that I became convinced that this was a worthy product for all dog owners.
I found the Need Step of the Motivated Sequence pattern as one with the most interesting content. This is because it has great visual demonstration of the dog behavioral problems needed to be solved.
Understanding the Motivated Sequence Pattern is integral in delivering a persuasive speecch. This is especially the case because the MMS is a more organized method compared to other structural patterns. By following it the speaker will be able to clearly and easily organize the speech more efficiently and effectively (Sellnow, 2004). On the part of the consumer, it will help them make an informed choice when deciding to purchase the product to address their need or want.
References:
Sellnow, D. Deanna. (2004). Confident Public Speaking. Connecticut, Cengage Learning.
